Innovations in Commercial Truck Tires
Gone are the days of just putting rubber to the road. Today’s commercial tires are becoming more technologically advanced, allowing for enhanced fuel efficiency, reduced operating expenses and better driver safety. Innovative tread designs, unique rubber compounds and telematic systems are helping fleet operators and drivers get more from their commercial tires than before.
Enhanced Tire Tread Design
Whether you operate a long-haul fleet or run a last-mile operation, your commercial tires must be able to withstand thousands of pounds of pressure over time. The latest commercial tire tread patterns have dual-layer designs: a soft outer layer to provide traction and a stiffer inner structure to maintain longevity.
Many new commercial tire tread patterns include blocks with small cuts for better grip and zigzag groove patterns to manage the rate of wear. Some manufacturers also use 3D siping across tread blocks to add extra grip and prevent block movement.
Providing traction enhancement can reduce slipping, heat buildup and rolling resistance, which benefits fuel efficiency.
Advanced Rubber Compounds
Today’s commercial tires feature advanced polymers that are more resistant to everyday wear and tear, especially if you drive over rough surfaces or carry heavy cargo. They’re engineered to withstand excess friction and dissipate heat, too.
Silica is also used to make commercial tires as it bonds well with other materials and helps prevent cracking and degradation. That natural and synthetic rubber mixture allows tires to retain elasticity in extreme heat and cold.
Fuel- Efficient Tires
Rotation creates friction and heat, which can result in tire deformation over time. Low rolling resistance (LRR) tires are designed to decrease the amount of energy needed to rotate, which can help lower fuel consumption.
LRR tires have shallow grooves, continuous ribs and stable tread blocks that enhance stability and waste less energy. They’re made of lighter materials, making rotation easier. Reducing the amount of resistance during operation also helps create a smoother driving experience since your vehicle doesn’t have to work as hard to propel itself forward.
Durability and Retreadability
Commercial retreads can help take your tire the extra mile. Retreading can be done on a variety of commercial vehicles including semis, buses, military vehicles and off-road machinery. It’s an automated process that removes existing, worn-out tread to make way for a new tread pattern that’s bonded to the structure. Today’s retread tires include enhanced performance features, including sidewall reinforcement and customizable blocks and grooves.
Digital Tire Management Systems
Commercial fleet technology continues to develop, and smart tires are becoming more prominent in the commercial trucking industry.
Some of the latest innovations include:
Tire sensors: Radio-tagged tires have sensors within the tire structure that monitor the rate of wear, temperature, inflation, pressure and speed. That information is sent to a cloud-based network where fleet managers can access the analytics and provide drivers with instant updates about their vehicles. Having access to that information can help you plan for maintenance and reduce the risk of tire failure on the road.
Self-inflation: New commercial tire designs feature self-inflating capabilities that allow you to continue to drive even if you have a puncture or air leak. There are internal and external inflation systems that can detect if your tire is underinflated and correct the air pressure to reduce your risk of blowouts. You don’t have to manually check each tire’s pressure because the system monitors it continuously. That can enhance your operational efficiency, especially if you’re driving long distances.
Commercial Tire Services at Bauer Built
We pride ourselves on providing each customer with personalized services to optimize fleet performance and budgets. Our commercial fleet and tire services include inspections, alignments, wheel-end repair, brake service and much more. Find a Bauer Built location near you to schedule your appointment.
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